ut actually spoke of her and used her name in a
temperance lecture. Madeline just escaped feeling disgust. She was saved
from this, however, by nothing less than her brother's naive gladness
that through subtle suggestion Stewart had been persuaded to be good for
a month. Something made up of Stewart's effrontery to her; of Florence
Kingsley meeting her, frankly as it were, as an equal; of the elder
sister's slow, quiet, easy acceptance of this visitor who had been
honored at the courts of royalty; of that faint hint of scorn in
Alfred's voice, and his amused statement in regard to her picture
and the name Majesty--something made up of all these stung Madeline
Hammond's pride, alienated her for an instant, and then stimulated her
intelligence, excited her interest, and made her resolve to learn a
little about this incomprehensible West.

"Majesty, I must run down to the siding," he said, consulting his watch.
"We're loading a shipment of cattle. I'll be back by supper-time and
bring Stillwell with me. You'll like him. Give me the check for your
trunk."

She went into the little bedroom and, taking up her bag, she got out a
number of checks.

"Six! Six trunks!" he exclaimed. "Well, I'm very glad you intend to stay
awhile. Say, Majesty, it will take me as long to realize who you really
are as it'll take to break you of being a tenderfoot. I hope you packed
a riding-suit. If not you'll have to wear trousers! You'll have to do
that, anyway, when we go up in the mountains."

"No!"

"You sure will, as Florence says."

"We shall see about that. I don't know what's in the trunks. I never
pack anything. My dear brother, what do I have maids for?"

"How did it come that you didn't travel with a maid?"

"I wanted to be alone. But don't you worry. I shall be able to look
after myself. I dare say it will be good for me."

She went to the gate with him.

"What a shaggy, dusty horse! He's wild, too. Do you let him stand that
way without being haltered? I should think he would run off."

"Tenderfoot! You'll be great fun, Majesty, especially for the cowboys."

"Oh, will I?" she asked, constrainedly.

"Yes, and in three days they will be fighting one another over you.
That's going to worry me. Cowboys fall in love with a plain woman,
an ugly woman, any woman, so long as she's young. And you! Good Lord!
They'll go out of their heads."

"You are pleased to be facetious, Alfred. I think I have had quite
enough of cowboys,